Professional road racingA place to discuss all things related to current professional road races. Here, you can also touch on the latest news relating to professional road racing. A doping discussion free forum.

True, but it was a separate day. An excellent day for Schleck and Contador. Mediocre day for Menchov who wavered all the way up to the top and Sanchez who crashed. The stage showed tendency but not its value. It's naive to assume that Contador and Schleck could have done something similar 2-3 times in the race even jointly, if they had needed this. So, that's a distance, but not a gulf.

To me Froome's climbing level in comparison to these 2 is unknown, to put it mildly. 2.5 years is too much to trust that relation of forces entirely.

When I look at cycling today, I get the impression that history is repeating itself: riders who are supposed to be rouleurs are climbing passes at the front of the race, and those who are supposed to be climbers are riding time trials at more than 50 kilometres per hour.

When I look at cycling today, I get the impression that history is repeating itself: riders who are supposed to be rouleurs are climbing passes at the front of the race, and those who are supposed to be climbers are riding time trials at more than 50 kilometres per hour.

indeed Madeleine was as impressive as tourmalet, they put a lot of time into every1 even tho they were paced by jens voigt for a while before the top. if they just kept going they would have put more then 2 and a half minutes into every1 by the end of the stage.

If you admit that Froome's climbing level in comparison to Contador and Schleck is unknown, as many of us have been trying to impress upon you along, then why do you find it so hard to accept that until he proves himself against them we can't place him at their level?

Why? I accept. I'm just wondering why people generally underrate him a bit. Apparently, it is because of Wiggins and one can think Froome is the same cart without an explosive spark as Wiggins. Dunno. Just a feeling. Visually Froome makes a furious impression. The man with no weaknesses.

I will never pick against Alberto Contador in a GT. I don't believe in Andy Schleck anymore. J-Rod has passed him, Froome has passed him and Wiggins has as well. With all that being said, there's too many if's and but's right now to pick the rest of the podium. I would literally have to make three different podiums to include/not include Wiggo and J-Rod, so I will hold off until I know more.

Why? I accept. I'm just wondering why people generally underrate him a bit. Apparently, it is because of Wiggins and one can think Froome is the same cart without an explosive spark as Wiggins. Dunno. Just a feeling. Visually Froome makes a furious impression. The man with no weaknesses.

He's being underrated because he is unknown, we don't know how he will do against the best climbers. It was easy to ride away from everyone on this years parcours, it will not be as easy next year. He might hang in there and show himself to be one of the best climbers, he might end up seeing the best ride away; only time will tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferminal

Contador hasn't done anything like Madeleine/Tourmalet since, so why should we expect Andy to get back to that level?

Because Andy has a stomach full of anger

In seriousness though, I think it is more a hope of seeing both Andy and Contador back at that level. I have my doubts as well that we will see them like they were in 2010 again, but I'll take even half of that over the bore that is Wiggo and his Sky train.

Also I think Contador at least could still have the ability to reach and perform at that level, 2011 wasn't that long ago.